Background: Nutrition of pre-school children (0-5 years age group) is of paramount  importance because the foundation for lifetime health, strength and intellectual vitality is laid during this period. Malnutrition among under-five children is an important concern for the health authorities in India. Aim and Objectives: To assess the burden of under-nutrition and over-nutrition, its determinants and strategies required to tackle malnutrition among under-five children in India. The information retrieved was reviewed and analyzed for discrepancies. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Material and Methods: Distribution of various types of risk factors and its influence on nutrition status of children in a given set up should be analyzed for planning the control measures. Strengthening public health interventions for mild malnutrition cases and vulnerable groups, effective implementation and evaluation of the strategies at regional level, research on overweight, obesity and its etiological factors and steps for improving socioeconomic development are the prerequisites for tackling malnutrition among under-five children in India. Result: Existing evidence shows that the prevalence of under-nutrition among under-five children was high and varied widely (under-weight: 39-75%, stunting: 15.4-74%, wasting: 10.6-42.3%) depending on the assessment methodology adopted. Studies on assessment of over-nutrition status among under-five children were limited. Conclusion: Malnutrition among under-five children  appears to be a sustained crisis instead of an acute, self-limited problem linked to the post-election violence.